Flip Clock: 8 Things to Check Before You Buy (2026)

Lull Retro Flip Clock with white numerals on a black walnut base

Calm Eden Sleep Journal

Oct 3, 2026

Published by Calm Eden

A flip clock shows the time on numbered cards that drop one after another, not on hands or a screen. Before you buy one, check how it flips, how it sounds, whether it lights up, what it displays, where it stands and how it is powered.

Lull Retro Flip Clock showing its two sets of flip cards

1. Mechanical Flip Or A Screen: Choose The Kind

The Lull Retro Flip Clock is mechanical: a movement lets one card fall every minute. A digital clock or a screensaver can copy the look on a display. Decide whether you want moving cards or a picture of them.

Cream Tempo Folding Desk Clock on an oak nightstand

2. Expect A Click, Not Silence

A falling card makes a sound. The Lull makes one soft click a minute, with no tick in between. If you want no sound at all, the Tempo Folding Desk Clock has a silent quartz movement.

Mist Vintage Bedside Alarm Clock on an oak nightstand

3. Check Whether It Lights Up At Night

A mechanical flip clock has no screen, and the Lull gives off no light. To read the time in the dark, the Mist Vintage Bedside Alarm Clock has a dial backlight you switch on. Choose dark or readable.

Close front view of the Lull Retro Flip Clock showing its large white 24-hour numerals

4. 12-Hour Or 24-Hour Display

The Lull runs on a 24-hour display, from 00 to 23, so afternoon reads 13 to 23. Check which format a flip clock uses before you order; the cards decide it and there is no setting to change.

Lull Retro Flip Clock seen from an angle, showing the two stacks of flip cards and the walnut base

5. Hours And Minutes, Or Seconds Too

The Lull has two sets of cards, one for hours and one for minutes, which keeps the numerals large. Its listing does not mention seconds or a date. If you need either, check for it by name.

Lull Retro Flip Clock on a bookshelf between books and a vase

6. Desk, Shelf Or Wall

The Lull stands on a 13 x 7 cm walnut base and is 20.5 cm wide and 14 cm tall: a desk or shelf clock. It does not hang. For a wall, compare the Alabaster Travertine Wall Clock.

Lull Retro Flip Clock on a wooden desk beside a lamp and a coffee cup

7. Power, And How You Set It

The Lull runs on a battery movement in the rear compartment; the battery is not included. Set the time with the knob on the right-hand side, turning forwards only. Nothing to wind.

Lull Retro Flip Clock on a hallway console beside a tray of keys

8. Materials And Care

The Lull has a solid black walnut base, a 304 stainless steel column and PVC flip cards. Dust it with a dry cloth. See silent wall clocks for clocks with no sound.

How To Choose A Place For The Lull

The Lull Retro Flip Clock is about 605 g and needs no cable. Pick a level surface where you can hear, or not hear, one click a minute.

The store offer includes Free standard shipping on every order

Step 1

Decide where the click belongs. On a desk or a living room shelf it is a quiet rhythm; by the bed, try it for a few nights.

Step 2

Measure the spot: 20.5 cm wide and 14 cm tall. See the seven things to know about the Lull for the details.

Step 3

Fit a battery in the rear compartment and set the time forwards with the right-hand knob. A standard carbon battery suits the movement.

Orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours. The store also offers a 30-day risk-free trial. Check the stated clock details before choosing.

Shop the Lull Flip Clock

Flip clock, desk clock, alarm clock and wall clock compared

Clock	Type	Sound	Light at night	Size	Power
Lull Retro Flip Clock	Mechanical flip clock	One soft click a minute	None	20.5 cm wide, 14 cm tall; about 605 g	Battery movement; battery not included
Tempo Folding Desk Clock	Folding desk clock with hands	Silent quartz	None	About 10 x 7 cm; about 120 g	Battery; not included
Mist Vintage Bedside Alarm Clock	Bedside alarm clock with hands	Silent sweep	Dial backlight you switch on	13.2 x 13.5 x 4.8 cm; about 350 g	Battery; not included
Alabaster Travertine Wall Clock	Wall clock with hands	Continuous sweep, no stepping tick	None	29.7, 34.7 or 39.5 cm across	One AA battery; not included

Flip clock FAQ

What is a flip clock?

A flip clock shows the time on numbered cards that drop one after another instead of on hands or a screen. In a mechanical one, such as the Lull Retro Flip Clock, a movement lets one card fall every minute.

Are flip clocks noisy?

A mechanical flip clock makes a sound each time a card falls. The Lull makes one soft click a minute with no tick in between. For no sound at all, choose a silent quartz clock such as the Tempo Folding Desk Clock.

Do flip clocks light up at night?

A mechanical flip clock has no screen. The Lull gives off no light, so you need a lamp to read it in the dark. The Mist Vintage Bedside Alarm Clock has a dial backlight you switch on when you want it.

Do flip clocks show seconds?

Some do. The Lull has two sets of cards, one for hours and one for minutes, on a 24-hour display. Its listing does not mention seconds or a date.

Do flip clocks need to be plugged in?

It depends on the clock. The Lull runs on a battery movement in the rear compartment, with no cable. The battery is not included.

What if it is not right for me?

You have a 30-day risk-free trial from delivery. If you are not happy for any reason, tell us within 30 days and return it for a refund, opened or used.